Mended Hearts – Episode 6

Mended Hearts – Episode 6

© Jennifer Godwin

Where are you taking me to? Mara asked looking around, they have been driving for long now, she has been living in owerri as long as she can remember but never knew that a place like this even exist.

calm down Amarachi, am taking you to a place where I can only take someone special to, so calm down and enjoy the ride.

She felt butterflies in her stomach, is he saying that she is special? she smiled, she still can’t believe that she has fallen completely in love with him, she doesn’t know if he feels the same way for her, but she can’t stop loving him. ” we are here” he said startling her. wow, she exclaimed, this place is beautiful, it is really far from the main town but it is beautiful, the owner built it very well.

“welcome sir, it has been long since you came down here” they heard a waiter say. “yes, I have been so busy micheal, we are going to my usual spot, bring my usual and take madam’s order as well”, he said smiling at Mara.

They entered inside a room marked VIP, Mara wowed looking around, she had already picked a sit in her mind when to her disappointment Kenny passed the VIP section and headed towards a door, he opened it and they stepped into the most beautiful place she has ever seen, it was a large hall built in a round form with a glass used in place of bricks giving people a nice view of the lake outside, wow Mara couldn’t stop admiring the place, nobody can believe that something like this can actually be found in that remote area, the place was calm and quite that if a pin drops it will be well heard.

Their order arrived, Kenny’s usual Catfish pepper soup and white rice was placed in front of him while Mara’s favourite fried rice with salad and chicken was placed in front of her too. nobody spoke a word until they finished their food.

“I want to tell you something Amarachi”, Kenny said wiping his mouth with the serviette, it is about my Ex-girlfriend.

Mara shifted on her seat and leaned forward to the table giving him her maximum attention.

“I met her during my service in Abuja, we got along because we found out that we came from the same state, I found out that her father died years back and her uncles took everything from them. her mother managed to rent a house and got a job at a hospital because she was a nurse, her mother’s sister later came to join them in the house, but the aunty was strange, she never talked to me all the while i used to visit, I thought she didn’t like me until Brenda told me that she can not talk, she has been mute since she was involved in an accident”.

“I provided Brenda with everything she wanted, I opened a boutique for her, got an apartment for her, made her mom quit her nursing work and opened a shop for her, everything was going smoothly until she started complaining that I travel a lot, it wasn’t my fault, I had to impress my Dad. the last straw that broke the camel’s back was when I travelled to Mumbai in India to open another branch there as the one in new Delhi wasn’t enough, I was supposed to stay for 1 month so as to ensure that everything went well but fortunately, Mr Veejay Rahul the branch manager was smart and he made work easy for him. I decided to surprise Brenda by coming back earlier, I went straight to her house from the airport only for me to catch her in bed with another guy. she didn’t feel remorseful at all instead she blamed me for always traveling, I was hurt and bittered, I even shed tears because of her, I thought I was not going to fall in love again so soon, but right now I have fallen helplessly in love with you Amarachi, he said holding her hands, I was holding back the feelings because I wanted to be sure of what I feel I for you, I love you so much right now, we have gone on a date severally and I couldn’t bring myself to tell you that loving you is the only important thing in my life right now, I feel happy whenever am with you, am just madly in love with you”.

Mara was surprised and happy, surprised that he later opened up about his past and happy that he finally confessed that he loves her, she smiled, she loves him too so much, more than she loved Obinna. “I love you too Kenny, she started, you have mended my broken heart, you are my knight in shinning armour, she said holding his hands.

Amarachi…. what is your middle name? he asked softly caressing her palm. ” Sonia, my name is Amarachi Sonia Johnson ” she answered nervously shifting her palm.

Amarachi Sonia Johnson, would you officially date me? he asked looking into her eyes, ” yes I will date you Kenny” she said smiling. she loves this man so much, now she truly believe what her mom told her “that she will get someone better than Obinna” yes her mom, Kosi told her something the other day about someone threatening her in their house, but she denied when she asked her about it, she hopes that there is no problem, she wouldn’t want anything to happen to her mom.

As early as 6:10, funmilayo was already in front of Agness’ house, she didn’t believe what she was told concerning Johnson’s disappearance, they must be lying she said. if Johnson is truly at home and would be going to the office today, she will see him leave she said looking around for somewhere to sit, and if he travelled then that she visited, he should be back by now that was why she waited for some days. she sat for about an hour or more before she heard the sound of an opening gate, she sighed in relief, she was already getting tired of waiting, she stood to wait for the person coming out, please let it be Johnson she muttered but was disappointed when a lady came out from the house closing the gate behind her. Funmilayo studied the lady closely, she wasn’t the one she saw the day she came, this person should be older than the girl she met, she looks exactly like Johnson, she stifled as she watched her walk down the street, she should be around 26 years old, realisation dawned on her at the thought of 26 years, oh my god, she said covering her mouth in shock, the… the… girl…she stammered pointing at the retreating figure of the young lady. she is the girl from 26 years ago, she is still alive, she didn’t die, she felt her knees go weak, Agness didn’t ki*ll the girl, she muttered slowly, the girl still lives.

__

Mara was sitting in her shop when Obinna came visiting. she wondered why he came, Kenny had told her that he has been dumped by his rich girlfriend, “serves him right she muttered”.

“How are you Mara”? he asked stepping into the shop, ” am fine Obinna and you”? she asked, ” am okay Mara, how is Mama? he asked trying to gather the courage to say his purpose of visiting. “Mama is fine Obinna and why are you here”? she asked.

“Mara I know that I have hurt you beyond imagination, I have caused you so much pain, am a monster, am not supposed to be forgiven, am ashamed of myself right now because of what I did to you, am so sorry Mara please find a space in your heart to forgive me” he pleaded.

Mara scoffed, “Obinna don’t take me for a fool, you are here because your rich girlfriend dumped your a$$, you think I don’t know? anyway I have forgiven you, it is all in the past now, you can leave my shop”.

“Mara am not here because Kasie left me, I have realized my mistake and am regretting my actions, I promise not to hurt you again, I will take good care of you, I will treat you like a Queen, am serious please believe me”.

Mara chuckled, she couldn’t believe that karma started working fast in Obinna’s life, she shook her head while laughing now, ” Obinna you had the chance to do that but you threw it away, another person is treating me like a Queen already and I will appreciate it if you will look elsewhere, who knows you might get another rich lady ” she concluded laughing so hard.

Obinna felt a pang of guilt, she has someone already so soon? she got over him so quick? but that won’t derail him from getting her back, he loves her so much right now and wouldn’t mind putting up a fight for her, he left her before and he would never do it again, he concluded.

Funmilayo has been pacing the living room for the past 30 minutes, she couldn’t wait for her son to come as he is the only support she has. “call your brother again and know what is keeping him” she said turning to her daughter who sat comfortably on the sofa not caring about her restlessness, what kind of stupid daughter is she? sometimes she wondered if she was switched during birth, ” I can’t give birth to someone like her” she muttered.

“Mom relax he will soon be here” she said not taking her eyes off the television. Funmilayo eyed her, “look at her, useless daughter” she muttered slightly.

“Mom you sounded worried when you called me on phone, what happened”? the young man asked as soon he came inside the house, ” thank God you are here my son, I have good news ” she said sitting down at last. “what is it Mom? what is the good news”? he asked wondering what the good news might be. ‘I have seen the b***h that eloped with your father and I know your father’s house” she said smiling.

“Mom don’t tell me that you are still on this case? her daughter asked getting angry.

” will you shut up your mouth funmi, I shouldn’t have given you my name if I had known that you won’t behave like me, instead I should have named you goat, werey” she said eyeing her daughter for the umpteenth time.

“Mom leave Funmi and talk to me, I can’t believe she is my twin, sometimes she behaves like a goat indeed, despite the fact that we work in the same company, we see everyday at work but I don’t talk to her and nobody in that company knows that we are siblings not to talk of twins, not even our boss Kenny Williams” the young man concluded rolling his eyes at his so called sister.

Funmilayo’s heart skipped immediately she heard the name “Williams” her children are working for the son of the man that hurt her 26 years ago, because of him Johnson left her, she smiled, coming to owerri was the best decision she has made so far, Williams will pay for hurting her too but that will be later, right now she will have to deal with the Johnsons first starting with the young lady she met earlier that day, the girl that escaped death 26 years ago, yes she will have to ki*ll her this time around, she has to die with her sister, she (Funmilayo) is the only one entitled to have children for Johnson and no one else, she will ki*ll them all. “we have lots of work to do” she said turning to her son, ” and the earlier we start the better for us” she concluded.

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He sighed again for the fifth time that morning, his mother had given him the address of his so called sister’s shop, he hissed, he couldn’t believe that someone could be heartless and wicked to the extent of abandoning a woman he put in a family way, he even eloped with his mother’s house maid then, what kind of a man is that, he planned to ki*ll him the moment he sees him but his mother told him not to and he doesn’t even know the reason she said that. they had suffered so much because of the lack of a father figure in their lives, he managed to pass through secondary school and couldn’t further more due to lack of funds, he had followed his friend to owerri for greener pastures, he luckily met Kenny stranded on the way when he had a flat tire and couldn’t get his mechanic on the phone, he helped him change it and he offered him a job in his company even without an experience, it wasn’t long before he over heard Kenny complaining of too much work, he had to send for his sister immediately so that she can work as his secretary, knowing that Kenny has a good heart, a heart touching cry can get his sister a job. He never planned to hide his sister’s identity but for the fact that he was employed without certificate was not encouraging him to bring his sister too, he had to make it a coincidence and it actually worked.

he looked up again and the young lady was not out, what kind of business person stays at home up til 8am in the morning, he scoffed why won’t she stay at home till now when she is enjoying their father’s money, rubbish and he never had a taste of the money, he was so angry when his mother told him that his father has money, while they were suffering in the city of Port Harcourt, Hawking different kind fruits, he and his sister were known in every street of Port Harcourt because they hawk anything their mom gives to them, their father was in owerri lavishing his money on his other family, even after all the suffering he couldn’t believe that his sister will still have sympathy on the man, the same man that killed their grandma, women can never be understood sometimes, he shook his head. He heard that the man had gone missing, serves him right, he sneered. “Mara’s hair home”, he read out loud, “her name is Mara”? he asked no one in particular.

He was about going home when an idea hit him, he started moving towards the shop, passed her shop and entered into her neighbour’s shop. “Good morning” he greeted looking around the shop. “Good morning” Simi answered wondering what the young man wants.

“Actually am looking for my long lost friend, her name is Mara and I heard that her shop is in this neighbourhood” he said hoping she buys his story.

” Yes Mara, her shop is beside mine, she normal come out late on Thursdays because she takes her mom to the hospital for her weekly checkup and she will come to the shop around 10am” Simi answered.

He was surprised at her response, she really is a talkative and he will take advantage of that, he smiled, “You know it has been long since I saw her, and I have forgotten the things she likes and the things she hates and am planning on surprising her” he continued.

“well i know few things about her, she likes fried rice, salad with chicken, she can eat it everyday and not get tired of it, even if you are her worst enemy she wouldn’t mind eating it in your house, she hates gossips, she said that am a gossip but am not, am I”? she said all at once without getting a breathing space.

“Of course you are a gossip and a talkative too” but he didn’t say it out, he wouldn’t want to ruin this little chance, instead he said “no dear, you are not a gossip, please continue”.

” that’s all I know about her” she said still trying to remember any other thing.

“please try and remember, I really need to surprise her, I know she will be angry at me” he said trying to convince her.

“She likes flowers too and… and… and yes, how can I forget? her weakness is her father, she miss her father everyday and she can go to any country to meet with him, ever since the man went missing she had not been herself” she said feeling happy that she later remembered something important.

“He went missing”? he asked feigning surprise.

” years he went missing 8 years ago” she answered.

He brought out a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket, ” I will write down my number here, in case you remember anything, anything at all, just give me a call, thanks for your time. ” he said handing the piece of paper to her.

“You are welcome, my name is Simisola” she said stretching her hands for a handshake.

“Simisola? you are Yoruba?” he asked taking the hand in his.

“yes, am from Oshogbo Osun state” she said taking her hand.

“Oh my god, am from Osun state too, illesha to be precised” he said rolling his eyes, their mother told them that their father is From IMO State, an Igbo man. Rubbish, as long as he is concerned, he is from Osun State, a Yoruba guy, the man that left the woman he impregnated is not worthy to be a father, they even answer their maternal grandfather’s name as their surname, so he doesn’t have any ties with the igbos.

“Baoni,”? ( how are you?)she asked smiling, she has seen her brother. “Mawakpa” (am fine) he replied smiling too.

“Alright Simi, I will be expecting your call” he said leaving the shop grinning.

“Alright take care, Simi replied.”

He left the shop with a smile on his face, to get someone, you need to use the person’s weakness, he smiled again.

To be continued

 

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